The 'Maramon Convention' is the largest Christian Religious convention held in Kerala. I had gone there once at the beginning of this millennium. My brother Saji Kanjiram also was with me then. In those days I had great appreciation for Alphonse Kannanthanam as an Indian Civil Service Officer for his commendable service. While listening to many messages and imbibing some at the convention, we realized that a youth convention was beginning to take place on one of the stages. We moved on to there. Mr. Kannanthanam delivered the Keynote address. He said that India is a meeting place of various religions and cultures, and that pluralism should be respected. He concluded by saying, 'Christians should think of becoming good Christians; Muslims should become good Muslims. Hindus should become good Hindus.' That day I found his speech very reasonable and tenable.

Extreme positions, violence, or aggression in the name of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, or any other religion or culture - can never be justified, and must be denounced.

This part I am addressing to all religious Activists and communalists. If your love for your Religion, cultural identity, or Community, you spread hatred towards any other community or religion, or attack anyone, or disrespect any human without any regard for their dignity, remember this: no matter for the sake of what Religion, Community, or Cultural identity you do all these, your children will abandon the same things that you are doing all these for.

You will never achieve anything by denying the rights of others or by threatening others now or in the end. If your children go elsewhere abandoning your community, or if your people are attracted to other Religions, you can't hold them back by putting the blame on others, slandering or intimidating or attacking others. Momentarily you might think that you have bunded the water, but without much delay they will have broken the bund and will have flowed en-total.

It seems to me that there is only one way. Give them the most noble and attractive pearls of their faith, religion, culture and customs. Mere bragging wouldn't help much. Not the chest-thumping sort of pride, but beautiful pearls that they will cherish and will hold dear for the rest of their lives.

That's only one side of it. The picture isn't complete yet. You yourself must become spiritually a beautiful person.

A beautiful Christian;

A beautiful Muslim;

A beautiful Hindu;

A beautiful Buddhist;

A beautiful Jew.